Student

1. About Northley's Assistance Student Team

2. What IS S.A.P? The Northley Student Assistance Team is a group of administrators, teachers, counselors, healthcare and community mental health professionals who aim to identify students whose family problems, mental health concerns, alcohol and drug issues cause them to perform or behave poorly at school.

3. Where'd SAP come from? Our school’s Student Assistance Team is sponsored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Student Assistance Program (SAP). The program is administered by the PA Department of Education and the records and statistics of SAP programs are reported annually to the state.

4. Who can refer students for SAP? Students can be referred for SAP by a teacher, nurse or counselor, a classmate, a parent, or a concerned friend.

5. Who should be recommended for SAP? @#$*@!! Any student whose personal issues, emotional problems, or challenges with drugs and alcohol are impeding their school performance.

6. What kinds of behavior should I look for? • Students in despair • Extreme changes in weight, sleep patterns, grades or attendance • Angry outbursts and serious disciplinary issues • Use of or frequent reference to drugs and alcohol • Irritability, restlessness • Self-injury or talk of same • Use of or frequent reference to weapons or guns • Students struggling with family issues– divorce, grief, loss, illness, mental illness, abuse.

7. How do I refer someone to SAP? Referral forms can be found in the mailroom in the SAP Mailbox, or you can get a copy from a guidance counselor. You can return the referral to the mailbox, or drop it in the SAP box.

8. What happens when a student is referred? • When a student is referred to SAP, the team meets to ascertain whether the child meets the criteria for SAP. If he/she does, they are assigned a case manager. • The case manager will let you know the referral has been received. • The case manager then sends out Behavioral Assessment forms to each of the child’s teachers, and notes to the nurse, guidance, and attendance offices requesting data. • The case manager contacts the parents to make an appointment to speak with our assessor from Holcomb Behavioral Center– Mrs. Malamut. • Mrs. Malamut assesses and makes recommendations for the student which may include outpatient therapy, medical consultations, in-school mentoring, etc.

9. When will I find out what happened with my referral? The student’s case manager will let you know the referral has been received. Due to confidentiality, you may not hear anything further specifically about the child’s case unless his or her parents decide to share that information with you. Confidentiality is the cornerstone of SAP.

10. Northley's Student Assistance Team Mr. Donaghy - Principal Mr. Hill - Asst. Principal Ms. Sayre- 6th Grade Guidance Mr. Siegel- 7th Grade Guidance Mrs. Barg- 8th Grade Guidance Ms. Runge – 6th / 7th / 8th Reading Workshop Mrs. Gonzalez- 8th English Ms. Genovese- Phys. Ed. Ms. Flanagan- Spec. Ed. Mrs. Saunders- Nurse Mrs. Malamut - Holcomb Rep. Ms. Edmiston – Dean of Students

11. Contact us anytime... in confidence! Northley Student Assistance Team